Smith cram



SMITH CRAM, OF NEW .YORK, N. Y.

MACHINE FO-RGUTTING AND REMOVING jOIBSTRUCTIONS UNDER WATER, `&c.

specificati@ of Letters Patent No. 989, dated october 2e, 1838.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, SMITH CRAM, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful machine for cutting and removing obstructions in navigable streams and waterfcourses, whether consisting of rafts, trees, logs,.stumps,roots, earth,

0r ice; also for cutting away timber and excavating earth .for canals, roads, channels,

&c., which I denominate f The Adjustable Cylindrical Excavator and Ido hereby declare that the following is alfull and exact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawings of the same, making part of this specification.

Figure l represents a top view of the machine. i Fig. 2 vrepresents a side view of the machine. Fig. 3 represents asection through the lineX, X. Fig. 4 represents one of the knives or cutters detached. Fig. 5 repre-` sents theuniversal joint.

The letters of reference referto the same parts in the several figures.`

The nature of my invention consists inv` placing the immediate instruments `,of.cut-

ting or, excavating on the periphery and sides of the outer rim of a wheel or cylin-; der of suitable dimensions, propelled by means of bevel gearing and a propelling shaft possessing, by means of a universal joint, the united powers of rotation and vibration without either motion materially interfering with or impeding the other; by which adaptation and combination of the principles and powers of those members or parts I am enabled to reach and'apply the power of cutting or excavating to a distant object or place, and move the same Vfrom one object or obstruction to another within a large scope or space during the continued operation of the propelling power, the boat, structure, or place on which the propelling power is placed remaining at the same time more stationary.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation. First, I construct an oblong frame a, a, Figs. 1 and 2 of the length, breadth, and strength required, according to the depth or distance desired to reach beyond the boat, or other structure, upon which the propelling power of the machine is intended to be stationed. Near the end of this frame I place a metallic wheel or cylinder B, intended to revolve on its axis which is placed at right angles with the sides of the oblong frame a. On and nearlthe outer surface` or periphery and at the sides of the rim of the wheel or cylinder I place a suitable number of metallic cutters Gr, either in line with the axis `or diagonally as occasion may require. Thesecutters, although let into grooves in the sides of the rim of the wheel or cylinder, are removable at pleasure and can be of diHerent forms,as well as sizes, to suit the particular work on which .they are employed. The gouge-like knife or cutter I find very efficient asis represented in the drawing at Fig. 4.

The wheel or ,cylinder is propelled by a ,shaft C, C, connected at itsV end by bevel gearingF to V,the central part of the wheel or cylinder B, then passing lineally through the frame and to the universal joint, and

`onto 4the boat or other structure upon which the propelling power is placed.

At-ornear the outer edge ofthe boat or other structure aforesaid and the end of the frame above mentioned the shaft contains auniversal joint E, which admits the outer part` ofthe shaft beyond the joint, the frame,

`and thenwheel or cylinder to vibrate or, re- 4volve (thejoint forming the pivot) s0 that the wheel or cylinder is capable of being di rected and reaching any point within the superficies of a seg-ment of `a sphere whose semidiarneter is not greater than the length of the outer part of the shaft, and operate eiiciently at an inclination from the line of the inner part of the shaft of at least forty five degrees in any direction without aii'ectj ing materially the rotary motion of the same, which propels the wheel or cylinder.

The universal joint may be describedas follows, viz, Suppose `the four arms I, J, K, L, Fig. `5, two of which are at right angles with the other two and all united at their common center at M, the inner part of the shaft C, forks and receives the ends of the arms K, L, and the outer part of the shaft forks and receives the arms I, J, each with a simple rolling joint, together forming the universal joint proposed to be used. But

any other kind of joint similarin principle and suitable for the purpose may be used.

The cutters may be formed sharp foreand aft and left open so as not toV clog with the material in whichV they operate and the wheel or cylinder is geared so as to revolve in either direction. The cutters project also from the sides of the rim of the wheel or cylinder in order to cut laterally if necessary, to avoid the pinching sometimes attending the operation Yof the saw under similar circumstances.

The frame and wheel or cylinder are moved, borne and directed to their object by means of a common crane H with windlass W placed immediately overor near the. universal joint E. And the frame and wheel or cylinder are canted to any inclination between the vertical and horizontal, and there fixed until its immediate purpose is answered by means of curved guides D, D, lixed to the movable frame a a and passing through end resting on a swivel, w, over or behind the universal joint. When the position of the cutting wheel is to be changed it is depressed until the curved guide D is drawn out of a mortiseV D2 in the swivel w and then turned on the universal joint. to the position in which it is required to be placed and another curvedguide D inserted in the same mortise and the wheel `again raised by the windlass. The chain is prevented from running back by means of a ratchet wheel and pawl on Vthe windlass, or any one of the usual means adapted to prevent the reverse motion of the windlass. y

Should it be desired' to work this machine from the bow or other part of a steamboat, the power of the enginel on board is applied to it by the ordinary connections and gearing at S.l The propelling power being applied to the inner end of the ointed shaft, C, at S causing it to revolve, imparts the rotary motion to the cutting wheel with any velocity, which, by its gearing, you may be pleased to give it. The wheel or cylinder ,Y

B is canted to any required inclination by means of the curved guides D and swivel lw The inventionv claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent,

Consists in the before mentioned and described combination of the adjustable cutting wheel or cylinder, with the universal power, and curved guides, producing armachine capable ofV being extended beyond the bow or side ofv a vessel, stage or other placel in which' t-he propelling power is placed,

joint, crane having a'windlass or other said wheel or cylinder being directed,l adl justed and held in" any vposition on land, in water or other place for-'cutting excavating or performingfwhatever office to which it may be applied, by means of the crane, windlass, Vand guides, the universal movement vof the cuttingwheel or cylinder not materially interfering kwith the propelling power supported on the vessel or elsewhere by the use of the universal pelling. shaft.

SMITH CRAM.

Witnesses: v` y L. B. WoonRUrr, R. M. WOODRUFF.

joint in the pro- 

